The present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing rubbery copolymers, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, or rubbery homopolymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, that are alkoxy functionalized, e.g., alkoxysilane functionalized, and provide desirable dispersion of silica in rubber compounds, such as for use in tire treads. To that end, the method, in one embodiment, involves admixing anionically polymerizable conjugated diene monomers with optional vinyl aromatic, an anionic-polymerization initiator, i.e., an organolithium compound, and a lithium alkoxide to form an admixture of living polymers, then adding a halogenated coupling agent to the admixture of living polymers effecting conditions to form an alkoxy functionalized rubbery polymer. The alkoxy functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.